EU: Civil
liberties concerns over quick decisions on terrorismThe European Commission is today agreeing a package
of measures to "improve the European Union's response to
terrorism". The proposals will go to a specially-called
meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Brussels
on Thursday 20 September. A number of proposals are likely to
raise civil liberties concerns: the introduction of an EU arrest
warrant, changing the rules on extradition within the EU and
an EU-wide definition of "terrorism". The definition
of "terrorism" is thought cover a group of two or more
people committing any act of violence or intimidation designed
to alter the social, economic or political structure of a country
or state. At present only 5 EU states have specific anti-terrorist
legislaation - UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

"Fair Trials Abroad", an organisation seeking to
protect the rights of people arrested or charged abroad, has
updated its analysis on a number of proposals which are likely
to be on the table: Fair Trials Abroad

At the beginning of September the European Parliament adopted
a report "on the role of the European Union in combating
terrorism" which also covered a number of issues being considered:
EP report (pdf file)Statewatch News online